May 5, 2004 Print this page

La Salle Commencement to Honor Two Men
Who Have Devoted Much of Their Lives to Public Service

La Salle University will bestow honorary degrees to two men who have devoted much of their lives to public service, Peter Terpeluk, Jr., U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg, and Brother Armin Altamirano Luistro, F.S.C., President of De La Salle University in the Philippines, at its commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 9th.

“It’s an honor for us to recognize Brother Armin and Ambassador Terpeluk, as they both have made remarkable careers in serving others,” said La Salle University President Brother Michael McGinniss, F.S.C. “Brother Armin’s work in the Philippines has made a difference in the lives of thousands of students, and Ambassador Terpeluk has contributed so much to our diplomatic corps, helping to build bridges to many nations around the world.”

From 1997 until 2004, Brother Armin served as Provincial of the Brothers’ District of the Philippines as well as Titular Visitor of the Sub-District of Myanmar (formerly Burma). As provincial, Brother Armin oversaw the steady growth of La Sallian education in the Philippines, where there are now nearly 50 schools associated with the Brothers, educating 100,000 students. Brother Armin is also noted for his work creating sustainable education ministries that directly serve the poor in the Philippines, focusing especially on the needs of at-risk street children.

Amb. Terpeluk began his public service career as a Town Manager in two southeastern Pennsylvania townships. He later joined the U.S. Small Business Administration, where he led trade missions to the United Kingdom, Russia and China and rose to the position of Acting Deputy Administrator, based in Washington, D.C.

Subsequently, he became Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Economic Development Corporation, where he worked closely with area government and business leaders to spur economic growth in the Philadelphia region. He was appointed ambassador to Luxembourg in April, 2002.

Tradition at La Salle has a graduating senior deliver the commencement address. This year’s speaker is William Weigman, a psychology major from Feasterville, Pa. Weigman was president of the Student Government Association at La Salle this past year, and has been involved in many leadership positions in student activities.

La Salle’s commencement will begin at 10:30 a.m. at McCarthy Stadium, just off the intersection of 20th Street and Olney Avenue. (In case of inclement weather, two indoor ceremonies will be held at the University’s Hayman Center: a 10:30 a.m. ceremony for graduates of the Schools of Business and Nursing, and a 3 p.m. ceremony for graduates of the School of Arts and Sciences.

This year, the University will graduate about 1,500 students in its day, evening, graduate and undergraduate programs.